Optical disc for storing moving pictures with text information and apparatus using the disc

ABSTRACT

When moving pictures are recorded onto an optical disc, not only is text data recorded, but also video-recording start date and time, video-recording end date and time, and source name or channel number serving as primary text data are recorded in alphanumeric characters program by program or cell by cell, a program or a cell being used as a unit of video-recording. Other text data is recorded together with language code. Since the primary text data used to select video data is expressed in alphanumeric characters, a program or cell to be reproduced can be selected, regardless of language, and the text information in the same language as that of the apparatus can be searched for.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an optical disc on which video data,audio data, and the like are recorded, an optical disc recordingapparatus for recording data onto the optical disc, and an optical discreproducing apparatus for reproducing the data recorded on the opticaldisc.

[0002] In recent years, moving-picture-compatible optical disc playbacksystems have been developed which play back an optical disc on whichvideo data, audio data, and the like have been recorded. They have beenwidely used in the form of, for example, LDs (Laser Discs) or video CDsfor the purpose of reproducing movie software or karaoke.

[0003] In this connection, the DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) standardemploying the internationally standardized MPEG-2 (Motion PictureExperts Group 2) scheme and the AC (Audio Compression)-3 scheme has beenproposed.

[0004] The DVD standard supports MPEG-2 for moving picture compressionscheme and AC-3 audio and MPEG audio for audio recording schemeaccording to the MPEG-2 system layer architecture. The DVD standardfurther supports sub-picture data, obtained by run-length compressingthe bit map data for subtitles, and special playback control data(navigation pack) such as fast-forward playback or fast-rewind playbackdata.

[0005] Furthermore, the DVD standard supports ISO 9660 and micro UDF (orUDF Bridge) to allow computers to read data of DVD.

[0006] Presently, however, the DVD standard takes no account of homerecording/reproducing systems. When home recording/reproducing systemsare constructed according to the standard, the following problem arise.

[0007] In DVD, information on title is defined as text information.

[0008] The text information, which is used for retrieval or search, hasnot been used much, because the DVD-ROM video has a menu (menu pictures)the title producer created, such as VMGM (video manager menu) or VTSM(video title set menu). In home recording/reproducing systems, however,a menu cannot be entered beforehand to record TV programs or movingpictures and still pictures (photographic data) from a camera into aDVD-RAM. Thus, retrieval or search using the text information becomesimportant.

[0009] In the DVD-ROM video, however, the text information has beencreated, taking no account of language. More specifically, in Europeancountries and Asian countries, language differs from one TV station toanother or from one program to another. Additionally, assume a casewhere a person goes abroad, carrying a DVD recorder with him or her, anddoes video-recording where he or she is staying. Under this assumption,if it is unknown which language the text information was recorded, theDVD recorder (or player) cannot judge whether or not a charactergenerator (e.g., kanji ROM) corresponding to its language code isprovided therein, when the text information is decoded. This makes thedecoding difficult. Moreover, when the text information does notcorrespond to the language, information retrieval (search) and the likecannot be performed at all.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention aims to remove the drawback that, when thelanguage in the text information corresponding to the video data to berecorded varies each time recording is done on a video-data-recordingoptical disc (or information storage medium), this cannot be dealt withand text retrieval cannot be performed.

[0011] A first object of the present invention is to provide an opticaldisc (or information storage medium) which enables multilingual textretrieval.

[0012] A second object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for recording information on the optical disc (or informationstorage medium).

[0013] A third object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for reproducing the recorded information from the optical disc(or information storage medium).

[0014] To accomplish the first object, an optical disc (or aninformation storage medium) according to the present invention has amanagement area (RTR. IFO of FIG. 13D/RTR_VMG of FIG. 13E) and a dataarea (1012 to 1016 in FIG. 13D). In the data area (1012 to 1016), data(including video data and audio data) is separated into one or moresequences (PGCs), which are then recorded. Each sequence (PGC) iscomposed of one or more programs corresponding to one or more cells (seeFIG. 15).

[0015] Here, one cell corresponds to one or more data unit (VOBU in FIG.3). One data unit (VOBU) includes one or more packs of pictures or soundto be reproduced in a period of time in a specific range (0.5 to 1.2seconds).

[0016] In the management area (RTR_VMG), a sequence management table(PGCIT of FIG. 6, 1752 in FIG. 16, ORG_PGCI or UD_PGCIT of FIG. 17)) formanaging program sequences by determining the playback sequence (or anorder of playback) of the cells and a program management table (PGC_PGIof FIG. 6, PGI # in FIG. 15 or 17) exist independently or partiallyoverlap with each other.

[0017] In the program management table (PGI #1), first text information(PRM_TXTI) expressed in alphanumeric characters (e.g., the ASCII code)is recorded.

[0018] In a specific area (TXTDT_MG in FIG. 4 or FIG. 16) different fromthe program management table (PGI #) in the management area, second textinformation (IT_TXT) is recorded in the same as or a different languagefrom that of the first text information (PRM_TXTI).

[0019] In the optical disc, the first text information (PRM TXTI)includes first retrieval information (ST23 in FIG. 10) usable insearching for the programs.

[0020] Additionally, in the optical disc, the second text information(IT_TXT) includes second retrieval information (ST25 in FIG. 10) usablein searching for the programs.

[0021] Furthermore, in the optical disc, the second text information(IT_TXT in FIG. 12) includes an identification code (IDCD), the size oftext information (TXT_SZ), and the body of text information (TXT).

[0022] Alternatively, in the optical disc, the second text information(IT_TXT in FIG. 12) includes an identification code (IDCD) and the sizeof text information (TXT_SZ).

[0023] Furthermore, in the optical disc, the sequence management table(VOB sequence information 1752 in FIG. 16) includes a search pointer(PL_SRP #) which points at a specific point in the program sequence (VOBsequence) and includes the first text information (PRM_TXTI).

[0024] Moreover, in the optical disc, the specific area (TXTDT_MG inFIG. 16) is included in the management area (RTR_VMG) and includes thesecond text information (IT_TXT) as sub-information for the first textinformation (PRM_TXTI).

[0025] Additionally, in the optical disc, the first text information(PRM_TXTI) and second text information (IT_TXT) can be used in searchingfor the programs and a search using the first text information (PRMTXTI) has priority of search over a search using the second textinformation (IT_TXT) (in FIG. 10, ST25 using IT_TXT is after the processat ST18 using PRM_TXTI).

[0026] In addition, in the optical disc, the management area (RTR_VMG)includes a management table (CI in FIG. 17) for managing the cells, andtext information (PRM_TXTI) expressed in alphanumeric characters isrecorded in the cell management table (M_CI or S_CI in FIG. 17).

[0027] Here, the first text information (PRM_TXTI) can include at leastone of video-recording start date and time, video-recording end date andtime, a source name, and a channel number.

[0028] To achieve the second object, a recording apparatus according tothe present invention uses an optical disc (10) having a management area(RTR_VMG in FIG. 13E) and a data area (1012 to 1016 in FIG. 13D) inwhich one or more programs have been recorded, the management area(RTR_VMG) including a sequence management table (ORG_PGCI or UD_PGCIT)for managing the sequence of the programs and a program management table(PGI) for managing the programs.

[0029] The recording apparatus comprises: first recording means (101 to104 in FIG. 1, ST4 in FIG. 9) for recording data in programs into thedata area on the optical disc; second recording means (101 to 104 inFIG. 1, ST2 in FIG. 9) for recording first text information (PRM_TXTI)expressed in alphanumeric characters and usable in searching for theprograms into the program management table (PGI) on the optical disc;and third recording means (101 to 104 in FIG. 1, ST3 in FIG. 9) forrecording second text information (IT_TXT) usable in searching for theprograms into an area different from the program management table in themanagement area on the optical disc.

[0030] In the recording apparatus, the second text information (IT_TXT)is expressed in the same language as that of the first text information(PRM_TXTI).

[0031] Alternatively, in the recording apparatus, the second textinformation (IT_TXT) is expressed in a different language from that ofthe first text information (PRM_TXTI).

[0032] Furthermore, in the recording apparatus, the second and thirdrecording means (ST2, ST3) record in such a manner that a search usingthe first text information (PRM_TXTI) has priority of search over asearch using the second text information (IT_TXT) (in FIG. 10, ST25using IT_TXT is after the process at ST18 using PRM_TXTI).

[0033] To accomplish the third object, a reproducing apparatus accordingto the present invention uses an optical disc (10) having a managementarea (RTR_VMG in FIG. 13E) and a data area (1012 to 1016 in FIG. 13D) inwhich one or more programs have been recorded, the management area(RTR_VMG) including a sequence management table (ORG_PGCI or UD_PGCIT)for managing the sequence of the programs and a program management table(PGI) for managing the programs.

[0034] The reproducing apparatus comprises: an input section (120 inFIG. 1, ST23 in FIG. 10) for inputting at least one of video-recordingdate and channel number as text information (TEXT in FIG. 12); aretrieving section (101 in FIG. 11, ST16 in FIG. 10) for retrieving aprogram (the program NONFICTION in FIG. 11 or 12) to be reproduced bycomparing the inputted text information (TEXT=video-recording dateand/or channel number) with primary text information (PRM_TXTI) recordedin the program management table (PGI); a selecting section (101 in FIG.1, ST19 in FIG. 10) for selecting one (TEXT in FIG. 12) of the pieces ofthe text information (video-recording date and time lists 1 to 3 in FIG.11) about the retrieved program (NONFICTION) to be reproduced; and areproducing section (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST20 in FIG. 10) forreproducing the data for the program (NONFICTION) corresponding to theselected piece of the text information (TEXT in FIG. 12).

[0035] The reproducing apparatus further comprises a second retrievingsection (101 in FIG. 1, ST25 in FIG. 10) for retrieving a program usingtext information different from the primary text information (PRM_TXTI).

[0036] In the reproducing apparatus, a search using the primary textinformation (PRM_TXTI) has priority over a search using the differenttext information (IT_TXT) (in FIG. 10, ST25 using IT_TXT is after theprocess at ST18 using PRM_TXTI).

[0037] The reproducing apparatus reproduces the first text information(PRM_TXTI) from the optical disc (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST15 in FIG.10).

[0038] The reproducing apparatus reproduces the second text information(IT_TXT) from the optical disc (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST25 in FIG. 10).

[0039] Furthermore, the reproducing apparatus reproduces the contents ofrecords (TXTDT_MG in FIG. 4, PGI, CI in FIG. 6) in the management area(RTR_VMG) from the optical disc (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST11 in FIG. 10).

[0040] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0041] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentsgiven below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0042]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an opticaldisc recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0043]FIG. 2 is a table to help explain a file format in storing data onan optical disc;

[0044]FIG. 3 is a diagram to help explain a hierarchical structure ofthe information stored on an optical disc;

[0045]FIG. 4 is a diagram to help explain a hierarchical structure ofthe management data in video manager information (RTR_VMGI);

[0046]FIG. 5 is a table to help explain the contents of a text datalanguage unit search pointer (differing from the example of TXTDT_LU_SRPin FIG. 4(c));

[0047]FIG. 6 is a diagram to help explain a hierarchical structure ofthe management data in video title set information (VTSI/RTR_VMGI);

[0048]FIG. 7 is a table to help explain the contents of cell playbackinformation (C_PBI/CI);

[0049]FIG. 8 is a table to help explain the contents of programinformation (PGI);

[0050]FIG. 9 is a flowchart to help explain a data process invideo-recording;

[0051]FIG. 10 is a flowchart to help explain a program retrieval processusing text information;

[0052]FIG. 11 shows examples of display in the program retrieval processusing text information;

[0053]FIG. 12 shows an example of display using text information;

[0054] FIGS. 13(A) to 13(F) are diagrams to help explain the datastructure of an optical disc according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0055]FIG. 14 is a diagram to help explain the directory structure of adata file stored on the optical disc of FIG. 13;

[0056]FIG. 15 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of programchain control information (including UD_PGCIT);

[0057]FIG. 16 is a diagram to help explain the data structure ofmanagement information (video title set information VTSI or managementinformation RTR_VMGI for video real-time recording);

[0058]FIG. 17 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of controlinformation/navigation data (RTR_VMG) in FIG. 13 or 16; and

[0059]FIG. 18 is a diagram to help explain the relationship of stillpictures VOB and movies VOB with the original PGC information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, an opticaldisc recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained.

[0061] A typical embodiment of the optical disc recording/reproducingapparatus is an apparatus for recording and reproducing moving pictures(or AV data) encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard onto and from anoptical disc 1 at a variable bit rate, such as a DVD digital videorecorder. (A concrete example of the DVD digital video recorder will beexplained later.)

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2, on the optical disc 1, data is stored in anormal file format. A title corresponds to one film. One disc containsmore than one title. A collection of titles is called a title set. Atitle set is composed of plural files.

[0063] On a single optical disc 1, there is a file called a videomanager Video Manager (hereinafter, referred to as VMG) as informationused to manage the optical disc 1.

[0064] In the video title set (hereinafter, referred to as VTS),information used to manage the title set is composed of a Video TitleSet Information (hereinafter, referred to as VTSI) management file, avideo file made up of video data, and a VTSI backup file.

[0065] For example, in a DVD video directory, VMG management data (VMGI)is composed of VMG menu video data (VMGM_VOBS), VMGI backup (VMGI), VTSmanagement data (VTSI), VTS menu video data (VTSM_VOBS), VTS video data(VTSTT_VOBS), and VTSI backup (VTSI).

[0066] As shown in FIG. 3, the video file has a hierarchical structure.One file is composed of program chains. One program chain is composed ofprograms. One program is composed of cells. One cell corresponds tovideo object units (hereinafter, referred to as VOBUs). A VOBU iscomposed of packs consisting of various types of data. A pack iscomposed of one or more packets and a pack header.

[0067] There are three types of packs: video packs (V packs) in whichmoving picture and still picture data have been recorded, sub-picturepacks (SP packs) in which sub-picture data has been recorded, and audiopacks (A packs) in which audio data has been recorded.

[0068] The pack is the smallest unit in data transfer. The smallest unitin logical processing is a cell. Logical processing is done in cells.

[0069] The playback time of the video object unit VOBU corresponds tothe playback time of the video data made up of more than one video group(Group of Picture, which is abbreviated as GOP) contained in the videoobject unit VOBU. The playback time is set to the range from 0.4 secondto 1.2 seconds. In the MPEG standard, the playback time of one GOP isnormally about 0.5 second. One GOP contains screen data compressed sothat about 15 pictures may be reproduced in about 0.5 second.

[0070] When a video object unit VOBU includes video data, GOPs(complying with the MPEG standard) composed of video packs, sub-picturepacks, and audio packs are arranged to produce a video data stream.

[0071] Even when the playback data contains only audio and/orsub-picture data, it is constructed using a video object unit VOBU asone unit. For example, when a video object unit VOBU is made up of onlyaudio packs, the audio pack to be reproduced within the playback time ofthe video object unit VOBU to which the audio data belongs is stored inthe video object unit VOBU, as in the video object VOB of video data.

[0072] A navigation pack (NV pack) (usable as management information)may be added to the head of the GOP.

[0073] The navigation pack is not handled on a DVD real-time recording(DVD_RTR) apparatus.

[0074] The VMG management data (VMGI) includes a text data managerTXTDT_MG which writes pieces of information, including a title name fortitle, an album name, and a producer name, in text form as shown in FIG.4(a).

[0075] In the text data manager TXTDT_MG, the following items arerecorded as shown in FIG. 4(b): text data manager information TXTDT_MGIin which an identifier used to identify TXTDT_MG, its number, and itsend address are written, text data language unit search pointersTXTDT_LU_SRP #1 to TXTDT_LU_SRP #n in which a language code for eachlanguage is written, and the contents of text data language unitsTXTDT_LU #1 to TXTDT_LU #n, each being a table of text data for eachlanguage.

[0076] The text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP, whichcontains eight bytes, includes a language code (TXTDT_LCD: two bytes)for text data, reserve (one byte), a character set (one byte), and astart address (TXTDT_LU_SA: four bytes) for a text data language unit asshown in FIG. 4(c).

[0077] In the text data language unit TXTDT_LU, the following items arerecorded as shown in FIG. 4(d): text data information TXTDTI in whichthe number of IT_TXT_SRPs in TXTDT is written, item text search pointers(IT_TXT_SRP #1 to IT_TXT_SRP #n) in which a number used to identify thecontents of IT_TXT and the start address of IT_TXT, and the contents ofitem texts (IT_TXT #1 to IT_TXT #M) written in character code.

[0078] The numbers 1 to M of the item texts (IT_TXT #1 to IT_TXT #M)make item numbers.

[0079] The text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP maycontain ten bytes and, as shown in FIG. 5, include a language code(TXTDT_LCD: two bytes) for primary text data, reserve (one byte), acharacter set (one byte), and the start address (TXTDT_LU_SA: fourbytes) for a text data language unit, and a language code(OPTION_TXTDT_LCD: two bytes) for other text data.

[0080] In the management data (VTSI) in the VTS, the following items arerecorded as shown in FIG. 6(a): the contents of a video titleinformation manager table (VTSI_MAT) listing the start address of eachpiece of information in VTS and VTSI and the attributes of VOBS in VTSand the contents of a video title set program chain information table(VTS_PGCIT) in which VTS program chain information is written.

[0081] An order of playback of cells for program chains PGC can bedetermined by the contents (PGCI) of the video title set program chaininformation table (VTS_PGCIT).

[0082] The program chain PGC is a unit for executing a series ofplayback according to the specified playback sequence.

[0083] A cell CELL is a playback section where playback data isspecified using a start address and an end address.

[0084] The program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT), as shown in FIG.6(b), includes program chain information table information (PGCITI) inwhich the number of PGCI_SRPs and the end address of PGCIT, VTS_PGCprogram chain information search pointers (PGCI_SRP #1 to PGCI_SRP #n)in which the category of VTS_PGC and the start address of VTS_PGCI arewritten, and program chain information (PGCI #1 to PGCI #M).

[0085] The program chain information table information (PGCITI) includesinformation indicating the number of program chains PGCs. The programchain information search pointer (PGCI_SRP) points at the head of eachpiece of program chain information PGCI and makes it easy to search.

[0086] The order of the pieces of program chain information PGCI is set,regardless of the order of the program chain information search pointersPGCI_SRP #1 to PGCI_SRP #n. This enables one or more program chaininformation search pointers PGCI_SRPs to point at the same piece ofprogram chain information PGCI.

[0087] The program chain information (PGCI), as shown in FIG. 6(c), iscomposed of program chain general information (PGC_GI) in which theplayback time of program chains PGCs and the number of cells arewritten, a program chain command table (PGC_CMDT) in which commands forprogram chains are written, a program chain program map (PGC_PGI) inwhich a map representing the structure of the programs in a programchain is written, a cell playback information table (C_PBIT) in which atable to define the playback sequence of cells in a program is written,and a cell position information table (C_POSIT) in which VOBID numbersof the cells used in a program and cell ID numbers are written.

[0088] In the cell playback information table (C_PBIT), cell playbackinformation (C_PBI #1 to C_PBI #j) are written as shown in FIG. 6(d).

[0089]FIG. 7 shows the contents of cell playback information C_PBI(C_PBI #1 to C_PBI #j) of FIG. 6(d). Specifically, each piece of cellplayback information (C_PBI), which contains 54 bytes, includes a cellcategory (C_CAT: four bytes), cell playback time (C_PBTM: four bytes),the start address (C_FVOBU_SA: four bytes) of the first video objectunit (VOB) in a cell, the end address (C_FVOBU_EA: four bytes) of thefirst video object unit (VOBIJ) in the cell, the start address(C_FVOBU_SA: four bytes) of the last video object unit (VOB) in thecell, the end address (C_FVOBU_EA: four bytes) of the last video objectunit (VOBU) in the cell, primary text information (28 bytes) composed ofvideo-recording start date and time, video-recording end date and time,source name, and TV channel number, and the TEXT item number (ITEMNumber OF TEXT: two bytes) in text data manager TXTDT_MG in VMGI asshown in FIG. 7.

[0090] The program chain program map (PGC_PGI) is composed of pieces ofprogram information #1 to #i as shown in FIG. 6(e).

[0091]FIG. 8 shows the contents of the program information shown in FIG.6(e). Specifically, the program information, which contains 32 bytes,includes an entry cell number (EN_CN: one byte), primary textinformation (28 bytes) composed of video-recording start date and time,video-recording end date and time, source name, and TV channel number,and the TEXT item number (ITEM Number OF TEXT: two bytes) in text datamanager TXTDT_MG in VMGI.

[0092] The primary text information is used to record information onvideo-recording, the information contained in the blanking period of avideo signal, and pieces of information in the electronic TV guideinformation (as found in satellite broadcasting) or the like andretrieve the recorded video data.

[0093] For the primary text information, pieces of informationconsidered essential may be video-recording start date and time, sourcename, and TV channel number. The presence of these pieces of informationenables the user to specify a TV program. On the other hand, in a caseof video camera recording or still camera recording, by knowing therecording date and time, the user can determine where the picture wastaken or recoded. Therefore, those pieces of information may also beused as primary text information.

[0094] The primary text information can be created within the opticaldisc recording/reproducing apparatus (video-recording/reproducingsystem). What carries out the work is a determination unit of primarytext information, which will be explained later.

[0095] Being written and recorded in the ASCII code, those pieces of theprimary text information can be generated easily in the optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus. This is a function applicable to alow-cost machine on a firmware basis. Representation in English enablesuse in major countries in the world. A method of specifying the languagecode for the primary text information and then recording it can beconsidered.

[0096] Furthermore, the following data can be considered as other textinformation: the text data superimposed in a video blanking period inground-wave broadcasting, and data other than the subtitle data in thetext information, such as program information, in the electronic TVguide information in digital broadcasting, such as satellitebroadcasting. The data other than the subtitle data includes the titlename, the names of the performers, the program review, the historicalbackground, and a description of accessories used in the program.Although not text information, HTML data can also be recorded in asimilar manner.

[0097] Thus, the other text information may be recorded according to theDVD text INF format. In the case of HTML data, the language code is setto “FFFF.”

[0098] Of those data items, the text information known before the videodata recording is recorded and then video-recording is started.

[0099] The text information taken in during recording is stored in amemory (a text buffer explained later) temporarily. After the recordinghas been completed, the test information is recorded.

[0100] At this time, a language code detector explained later senses thelanguage name and text code name in the text information, records thesensed language name and text code name into a text informationmanagement area, and thereafter records the text information in a textinformation area.

[0101] Here, the following two cases can be considered: a case where theprimary text information and TEXT item numbers are recorded on a cell(CELL) basis and a case where they are recorded on a program (PG) basis.When recording is done on a CELL basis, the primary text information andTEXT item numbers are recorded in C-PBI as shown in FIG. 7. Whenrecording is effected on a PG basis, they are recorded in the programinformation in PGI.

[0102]FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus (e.g., DVD video recorder) for recordingand reproducing digital moving picture information onto and from anoptical disc 1 using the data structures as explained in FIGS. 2 to 8.

[0103] In the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus, thefollowing devices act on the optical disc 1 serving as a recordingmedium. First, a main microprocessor section (hereinafter, referred toas a main MPU section) 101 is a section for supervising the operation ofthe entire recording/reproducing apparatus.

[0104] A disc drive 102 includes the function of controlling therotation of the optical disc 1, the reading of data from the opticaldisc 1, and the writing of data onto the optical disc 1 under thecontrol of the main MPU section 101. Control of the rotation of theoptical disc 1 is performed via the servo mechanism of a disc motor. Thewriting of data onto the optical disc 1 and the reading of data from theoptical disc 1 are realized via a pickup device.

[0105] A data processor 103 adds an error correction code to the data inunits of 16 sectors to record the recording data from an encoder unit104 onto the optical disc 1 in a recording operation, produces arecording signal by modulation, and supplies the resulting signal to thedisc drive 102. A temporary storage buffer 105 is connected to the dataprocessor 103 and used to temporarily store more than several minutes ofrecording data in high-speed access.

[0106] The data processor 103 receives a playback signal from the discdrive 102 in a playback operation, demodulates the signal, performs anerror correction process, and sends the demodulated signal to a decoderunit 106.

[0107] An external input is supplied to the encoder unit 104. Anaudio/video (AV) input section 107 can supply an audio signal and avideo signal and a tuner 108 also can supply an audio signal and a videosignal. Since there may be character information or closed caption dataas the information in a vertical blanking period, the tuner 108 caninput these data items to the encoder unit 104.

[0108] The audio signal and video signal are supplied to ananalog/digital (A/D) converter 201 in the encoder unit 104. The videosignal digitized at the A/d converter 201 is inputted to a video encoder202, whereas the audio signal is inputted to an audio encoder 203. Thecharacter information and closed caption data are inputted to asub-picture (SP) encoder 204. The encoded video data, audio data, andsub-picture data are inputted to a formatter 205, which organizes thesedata into packets and packs for recording. At this time, a buffer memory206 is used for temporary storage.

[0109] The encoders 202, 203, 204 refer to a system time clock acting asa reference of time for all of the files and, according to the value,determine a presentation time stamp (PTS) and a decoded time stamp (DTS)for each packet. The system time clock is generated by a system timeclock (STC) unit 109.

[0110] To further add the necessary information in playback, theformatter 205 may perform an alignment process of packs in each specificinterval (e.g., GOP) of video (e.g., the playback time ranges from about0.5 to 1.2 seconds) and add a navigation pack (NV pack) (usable asmanagement information) to the head of a GOP.

[0111] The data processor 103 records the addresses of the NV packsahead and behind in a data area for a fast-forward and rewind of data inNV packs, and the other necessary management data in a management area.

[0112] The decoder unit 106 receives a pack train of playback data fromthe data processor 103. The pack train is supplied to a separator 301.The separator 301 judges each pack and transfers video packets to avideo decoder 302, sub-picture packets to a sub-picture (SP) decoder303, and audio packets to an audio decoder 304.

[0113] NV packs are stored one after another in the internal memory 301a of the separator 301 so that the main MPU section can access them atany time.

[0114] When the separator 301 transfers each packet to the correspondingdecoder, PTS or DTS is sent with specified timing to the system timeclock unit 109, which loads it therein and sets a reference time for theentire system. For example, the main MPU section 101 loads PTS in a NVpack into the system time clock unit 109 or the video decoder 302automatically sets DTS or PTS for the video data in the system clockunit 109.

[0115] After the setting, each decoder compares PTS in a packet with thesystem clock and performs a decoding and reproducing process, whilekeeping the synchronizing state.

[0116] The video data decoded at the video decoder 302 and thesub-picture data decoded at the sub-picture decoder 303 are inputted toa video processor 305, which combines them.

[0117] A video mixer 110 mixes the output of the video processor 305with the character data and others stored in the frame memory 111.Thereafter, the resulting signal is converted by a video encoder 112into an NTSC signal (or PAL signal), which is supplied to a display (TVmonitor) 113. In addition, the output of the video mixer 110 is designedto be taken out as digital output through an interface 114.

[0118] The output of the audio decoder 304 is converted by adigital/analog (D/A) converter 309 and the resulting signal is suppliedto an audio output section (speaker) 115.

[0119] Connected to the main MPU unit 101 are a key input section 120,such as a keyboard, composed of a PLAY (playback) key, a REC(video-recording) key, a STOP key, and others, a display panel 121, anda character generator or kanji ROM 122 for displaying text information.The character generator or kanji ROM 122 converts a text code (charactercode) in the text information into a character pattern (or font data).For example, a specific language code has been set in the charactergenerator or kanji ROM 122. The language code is used to convert textcodes into character patterns in any one of various languages, includingalphanumeric characters, kanji characters, Hangul characters, and Arabiccharacters. The set language code is managed by the main MPU section101.

[0120] The main MPU section 101 not only manages the entire apparatuscomprehensively but also performs edit control.

[0121] The main MPU section 101 includes a primary text determinationunit 101 a, a text buffer 101 b, an unavailable language warning display101 c, a language code detector 101 d, and a language checker 101 e.

[0122] The primary text information determination unit 101 a generates,as primary text information, information (video-recording start date andtime, source name, and TV channel number) regarding video-recording fromthe tuner 108, the information sent during a blanking period, electronicTV guide information (as found in satellite broadcasting) and so on.

[0123] The text buffer 101 b stores the text information temporarily.

[0124] The unavailable language warning display 101 c not only displaysthe absence of the relevant data when it is judged from the data fromthe language checker 101 e that there is no data corresponding to thelanguage, but also gives a warning to the user on the display 113 wherethere is no text data from the tuner 108 acting as the other textinformation retrieval unit.

[0125] The language code detector 101 d detects the language name andtext code name in the text information, records the detected languagename and text code name into the area (see FIG. 4(c)) for the languagecode (TXTDT_LCD) for text data in the text data language unit searchpointer TXTDT_LU_SRP serving as the text information management area,and thereafter records the text information into the area (see FIG.4(d)) for item text (IT_TXT) in the text data language unit TXTDT_LUserving as the text information area.

[0126] The language checker 101 e reads the language code correspondingto the primary text information about each of the retrieved (orsearched) programs or cells on the basis of the text item number andchecks to see if the language code coincides with the language code ofthe apparatus.

[0127] The main MPU unit 101 converts the character code correspondingto the text information into font data and develops the font data on theframe memory 111. The video mixer 110 mixes the resulting data withdecode data (or DVD video data). Then, the video encoder 112 convertsthe mixed data into an NTSC signal (or PAL signal), which is displayedon the TV monitor 113 or the like.

[0128] Although retrieval data (search data) is inputted from the keyinput section 120, the same thing may be done from only a pointingdevice (in the case of a type where a keyboard icon is displayed on theTV screen and characters are chosen by the icon keyboard on the screen),taking account of use at home.

[0129] Next, the data processing in video-recording will be described byreference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

[0130] First, when receiving a video-recording instruction, the main MPUsection 101 reads the management data from the disc drive 102 anddetermines a writing area. Then, the MPU section 101 sets the managementarea so that the determined area may be written into and sets the writestart address of the video data in the disc drive 102, thereby preparingfor data recording (step ST1).

[0131] Next, the main MPU section 101 resets the time of the STC unit109. The STC unit 109 is a system timer. Video-recording and playbackare done on the basis of the value of the timer. The main MPU section101 further effects other various setting.

[0132] Thereafter, the main MPU section 101 causes the primary textinformation determination unit 101 a to produce primary text informationin alphanumeric characters from the video-recording start date and time,source name, and TV channel name, supplied as information onvideo-recording from the tuner 108. The MPU section 101 records theprimary text information in cell playback information (C_PBI) shown inFIG. 6(d), when the primary text information is recorded cell by cell,and records it in the program information shown in FIG. 6(e), when it isrecorded program by program (step ST2).

[0133] Furthermore, the main MPU section 101 records the textinformation known before recording in the area for item text (IT_TXT) inthe text data language unit TXTDT_LU in the text data manager in VMGI(step ST3). When the language code is known, the MPU section 101 recordsthe language code in the area for the language code (TXTDT_LCD) for thetext data in the text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP(step ST3).

[0134] The flow of the video signal in video-recording is as follows.

[0135] First, the AV signal inputted from the tuner 108 or AV inputsection is A/D converted by the A/D converter 201. The video signal isinputted to the video encoder 202. The audio signal is inputted to theaudio encoder 203. The tuner 108 inputs the closed caption signal or thetext signal for the subtitle data in teletext or the like to the SPencoder 204. The text information other than the subtitle data istransferred to the main MPU section 101. When receiving the textinformation other than the subtitles, the main MPU section 101 storesthe text information in the text buffer 101 b temporarily and records itat the end of the video-recording.

[0136] Each of the encoders 202, 203, 204 compresses the signal andseparated into packets (here, the data is separated into packets in sucha manner that each pack contains 2048 bytes when the data is packed).The resulting data is inputted to the formatter 205. Here, the decoders202, 203, 204 determine PTS and DTS for each packet according to thevalue of the STC unit 109 as the need arises, and record them.

[0137] The formatter 205 records the packet data into the buffer memory206 temporarily, and thereafter packs each of the inputted packet dataitems, mixes them GOP by GOP, adds an NV pack to the head of the GOP,and inputs the resulting set of packs to the data processor 103.

[0138] The data processor 103 puts together the packs in units of 16packs into ECC groups, puts ECC to them, and sends them to the discdrive 102. When the disc drive 102 is not ready to record data onto theoptical disc 1, the data processor 103 transfers the ECC groups to thetemporary storage buffer 105 and waits for the disc drive 102 to beready to record data. When being ready for recording, the disc drive 102starts recording (step ST4).

[0139] Here, the temporary storage buffer 105 is assumed to have a largememory capacity, because it holds several minutes of recording data inhigh-speed access.

[0140] At the end of video-recording, the address data about each NVpack is recorded in the fast-forward and rewind data part in each NVpack, and the information necessary after the video-recording isrecorded in the management area, which completes the video-recordingoperation (step ST5).

[0141] The main MPU section 101 is capable of reading and writing datafrom and into the data processor 103 via a bus to read and write datafrom and into the file management area.

[0142] At the end of the video-recording, the main MPU section 101records the text information reordered in the text buffer 101 b into thearea (see FIGS. 4(a), (b), and (d)) for the item text (IT_TXT) in thetext data language unit TXTDT_LU in the text data manager in VMGI (stepST6).

[0143] In addition, the main MPU section 101 records the language codeinto the area (see FIGS. 4(a), (b), and (d)) for the language code(TXTDT_LCD) in the text data in the text data language unit searchpointer TXTDT_LU_SRP (step ST6). It also records other management data.

[0144] At the end of the video-recording, the main MPU section 101records the video-recording end date and time as primary textinformation into the cell playback information C_PBI shown in FIG. 6(d)or into the program information shown in FIG. 6(e) (step ST7).

[0145] At this time, to relate the primary text information to theprogram in which the text information has been recorded, the main MPUsection 101 records the item text number indicating the position inwhich the text information has been recorded into the cell playbackinformation C_PBI shown in FIG. 6(d) or into the program informationshown in FIG. 6 (3) (step ST7).

[0146] Next, the data processing in playback will be explained.

[0147] First, when receiving a playback instruction, the main MPUsection 101 reads the management area from the disc drive 102 via thedata processor 103 and determines the address to be reproduced. Then,the main MPU section 101 sends the address for the determined data to bereproduced and a read instruction to the disc drive 102.

[0148] The disc drive 102 reads the sector data from the optical disc 1according to the received read instruction. Then, the data processor 103performs error correction and sends the resulting data in pack data formto the decoder unit 106.

[0149] In the decoder unit 106, the separator 301 receives the read-outpack data, separates the data into packets. According to the purpose ofthe data, the separator 301 transfers the video packet data (MPEG videodata) to the video decoder 302, the audio packet data to the audiodecoder 303, and the sup-picture packet data to the SP decoder 303. Inaddition, the separator 301 stores the NV packs into an internal memoryto enable the main MPU section 101 to process them in such a manner thatthe main MPU 101 can access them at any time.

[0150] The PTS in each of the sent packet data items is loaded into theSTC unit 109 at the time of transfer start (that is, the main MPUsection 101 sets the PTS in an NV pack into the STC unit 109, or thevideo decoder 302 automatically sets the PTS in the video data into theSTC unit 109). Thereafter, each of the decoders 302, 303, 304 carriesout a playback process in synchronization with the value of the PTS(Presentation Time Stamp) in the packet data (while comparing the PTSwith the value of the STC unit 109), thereby reproducing moving pictureswith subtitles on the TV monitor 113. The presentation of the playbacktime during playback shows the playback time data in the NV pack inDVD-ROM video.

[0151] Next, the process of retrieving a program using the textinformation will be described by reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.10 and examples of display shown by 113 a to 113 f in FIG. 11.

[0152] First, when the user presses a menu search key in the key inputsection 120, the main MPU section 101 judges the menu retrieval mode andreads VTSI from the optical disc 1, using the disc drive 102 and dataprocessor 103 (step ST11).

[0153] On the basis of the read VTSI, the main MPU section 101 effectsthe initial setting of each of the decoders 302, 303, 304 (step ST12).

[0154] Additionally, the main MPU section 101 displays a retrievalinitial screen on which the message that “ENTER VIDEO-RECORDING DATE ANDTIME AND CHANNEL NUMBER” as shown by 113 a in FIG. 11 (step ST13).

[0155] According to the guide on the screen, the user enters thevideo-recording date and time and channel numbers (step ST14).

[0156] Instead of those items, the user may enter the video-recordingtime or source name (i.e., the TV channel number, satellite channelnumber, or camera input). The main MPU section 101 displays the contentsof the input (e.g., TV channel 12) on the TV monitor 113 as shown by 113b in FIG. 11.

[0157] When the video-recording date and channel number have beenentered, the main MPU section 101 causes the primary text determinationunit 101 a to read the alphanumeric priority text information writtenfor each program or cell (in the cell playback information C_PBI in FIG.6(d) or in the program information in FIG. 6(e)) (step ST15).

[0158] Then, the priority text determination section 101 retrieves orsearches the corresponding program or cell according to the enteredvideo-recording date and channel number (step ST16).

[0159] Then, the main MPU section 101 stores the number of programs orcells retrieved by the primary text determination unit 101 a and thefirst sensed program number or cell number (step ST17).

[0160] Thereafter, the main MPU section 101 reads the primary textinformation written in alphanumeric characters in the programs or cellsretrieved by the primary text determination unit 101 a and displays iton the TV monitor 113 as shown by 113 c in FIG. 11 (step ST18).

[0161] In this case, for programs on TV channel 12, the following aredisplayed: 1. Jul. 12, 1998, 17:00 17:29, 2. Jul. 21, 1998, 21:00-21:59,3. Aug. 9, 1998, 1:00-1:59.

[0162] If the search key is not pressed (NO at step ST21) in the displaystate at step ST18, control proceeds to step ST19.

[0163] Here, if the primary text information in a program or cell ischosen by the cursor (step ST19), the main MPU section 101 searches forthe target program or cell and goes to a playback process (step ST20).

[0164] Specifically, when number 2 is chosen, the main MPU section 101additionally displays the guide message “PROGRAM NO. 2 IS GOING TO BEREPRODUCED” as shown by 113 e in FIG. 11 and proceeds to the process ofreproducing program No. 2 or cell No. 2.

[0165] If the search key is pressed (YES at step ST21) in the displaystate at step ST18, control goes to step ST22.

[0166] When the search key is pressed, the main MPU section 101 displaysthe guide message “ENTER THE CHARACTERS TO BE SEARCHED FOR” on thedisplay 113 as shown by 113 d in FIG. 11 (step ST22).

[0167] Following the guide, the user enters a keyword, or the charactersto be searched for, from the key input section 120 (step ST23).

[0168] When the keyword has been entered, the main MPU section 101causes the language code detector 101 d to read the language code(recorded in the area for the language code (TXTDT_LCD) in the text datain the text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP) on the basisof the text item number corresponding to the primary text information ineach of the retrieved programs or cells (or on the basis of the textitem number recorded in the cell playback information C_PBI of FIG. 6(d)or in the program information of FIG. 6(e) so as to correspond to theprimary text information). Then, the main MPU section 101 causes thelanguage checker 101 e to search for a program or cell that correspondsto the language code of the apparatus (step ST24).

[0169] As a result of the search, if a program or cell that coincideswith the language code of the apparatus has been found (YES at stepST25A), the main MPU section 101 reads the text informationcorresponding to the program or cell that coincides with the languagecode and makes a search using the keyword (stet ST25).

[0170] As a result of the search, the main MPU section 101 additionallydisplays the primary text information in the program or cell coincidingthe language code on the TV monitor 113 (step ST26).

[0171] For example, when the user enters “NONFICTION” on the inputscreen for characters to be searched for, the main MPU section 101additionally displays the primary text information “Jul. 21, 1998,21:00-21:59” corresponding to the text information “NONFICTION” on theTV monitor 113 as shown by 113 f in FIG. 11.

[0172] In this state, control goes to the process of reproducing theprogram or cell corresponding to the selected primary text information.

[0173] At step ST24, if there is no program or cell that coincides withthe language code of the apparatus (NO at step ST25A), the main MPUsection 101 displays the guide message “NO PROGRAM IN THE CORRESPONDINGLANGUAGE HAS BEEN FOUND” on the TV monitor 113 (step ST27).

[0174] As described above, when moving pictures are recorded on anoptical disc, not only is text data is recorded, but also primary textdata including the video-recording start date and time, thevideo-recording end date and time, and source name or channel number arerecorded in alphanumeric characters for each program or cell as a unitof video-recording. Other text data is recorded together with thelanguage code.

[0175] As a result, even when there are various languages for the textdata in playback, since the primary text data including thevideo-recording start date and time, the video-recording end date andtime, and the source name or channel number are expressed inalphanumeric characters, the program or cell to be reproduced on thebasis of the video-recording start date and time, the video-recordingend date and time, and the source name or channel number expressed inalphanumeric characters can be selected. Additionally, the textinformation in the same language code as that of the apparatus can besearched for.

[0176] When the text information in the same language code as that ofthe apparatus is searched for, a warning can be given to the user, if notext information in the same language code has been found.

[0177]FIG. 12 shows an example of display using the text information.

[0178] It is assumed that, for example, a TV program with the title“NONFICTION” has been recorded on the optical disc (DVD_RTR disc) 10 ofFIG. 1 as test information on program #1.

[0179] In addition, it is assumed that IT_TXT_SRPN “2” (=IT_TXT_SRP #2)has been recorded as a search pointer indicating the item textcorresponding to program #1.

[0180] In this case, if the title of program #1 “NONFICTION” has beenused as primary text information PRM_TXTI, the search pointer IT_TXT_SRP#2 is searched for on the basis of the text information “NONFICTION”.Using the IT_TXT_SRP #2, the corresponding item text IT_TXT is read fromthe disc 10.

[0181] The item text IT_TXT has any one of the following structures:

[0182] (1) Identification code IDCD, text size TXT_SZ, and the body oftext TXT.

[0183] (2) Identification code IDCD and text size TXT_SZ (here, TXT isabscent or TXT is optional).

[0184]FIG. 12 shows an example of the structure of item (1).

[0185] The identification code IDCD constituting the item text IT_TXT iscomposed of code, type, and item name.

[0186] The item name is used to represent a movie, a TV station (orradio station), a memo, or the like.

[0187] The type is used to represent a genre of movie, music, drama, orthe like or a source of broadcasting station, camera, or the like.

[0188] The code is used to determine the item name and type.

[0189] For example, when the code is 60h, this means that the source ofthe corresponding program is “BROADCASTING STATION.” When the code is30h, this means that the genre of the corresponding program is “MOVIE.”

[0190] In the example of FIG. 12, the information that the TV program“NONFICTION” on TV channel 12 recorded from 21:00 to 21:59, Jul. 21,1998, was recorded as program #1 on the disc 10 has been displayed onthe TV monitor 113.

[0191]FIG. 12 shows “98.07.21 21:00-21:59” as an example of the itemtext and the title of the program “NONFICTION” as an example of theprimary text information. On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows a similarvideo-recording date as an example of the primary text information.

[0192] The reason why the example of FIG. 11 is made different from thatof FIG. 12 is to provide various forms. A certain piece of textinformation (e.g., video-recording date and time information) is notnecessarily limited to either the primary text information or the itemtext information.

[0193] One information recording medium that enables the recording andreproducing of video information or music information is a DVD_RTR disc(an optical disc using phase change) as shown in FIG. 13(A). The DVDvideo recorder (DVD_RTR recorder) of FIG. 1 can use a disc with astructure as shown in FIG. 13.

[0194] The contents of the information (data structure) recorded on thedisc 10 will be explained below.

[0195]FIG. 13(B) shows a rough data structure of information recorded onthe optical disc 10. In FIG. 13(B), a lead-in area 1002, volume & filemanager information 1003, a data area 1004, and a lead-out area 1005 arearranged in that order from the inner circumference side 1006 toward theouter edge of the optical disc 1001.

[0196] The lead-in area 1002 has an embossed data zone where the lightreflecting surface is bumpy, a mirror zone where the surface is flat(mirrorlike), and a rewritable data zone where information can berewritten.

[0197] The volume & file manager information 1003 is recorded in arewritable data zone where the user can record or rewrite data. In thevolume & file manager information, information on all of the audio &video data (AV data) files or volumes is stored.

[0198] The data area 1004 has a rewritable data zone where the user canrecord or rewrite data.

[0199] The lead-out area 1005 is made up of a rewritable data zone whereinformation can be rewritten.

[0200] In the embossed data zone of the lead-in area 1002, the followingpieces of information have been recorded beforehand:

[0201] Information on the disc type, such as DVD-ROM/DVD-RAM/DVD-R, thedisc size, and the recording density, information on all of theinformation storage medium, including physical sector numbers indicatingthe recording start/recording end positions.

[0202] Information on recording, reproducing, and erasingcharacteristics, including the recording power, recording pulse width,erasing power, reproducing power, and linear velocity in recording orerasing.

[0203] Information on the manufacture of individual information storagemediums, including serial numbers.

[0204] Each of the rewritable zone in the lead-in area 1002 and that inthe lead-out area 1005 has the following:

[0205] A unique disc name recording area for each information storagemedium.

[0206] A trial recording area (for checking the recording and erasingconditions).

[0207] A management information recording area for defective areas inthe data area 1004.

[0208] The information recording and reproducing apparatus can recordinformation onto each of those areas.

[0209] In the data area 1004 sandwiched between the lead-in area 1002and the lead-out area 1005, computer data and audio & video data (AVdata) can be recorded in such a manner that they are intermingled asshown in FIG. 13(C).

[0210] The order in which computer data and audio & video data arerecorded and the recording information size of them are arbitrary. Theareas in which computer data is recorded are called computer data areas1008, 1010. The area in which audio & video data is recorded is calledan audio & video data area 1009.

[0211] As shown in FIG. 13(D), the data structure of informationrecorded in the audio & video data area 1009 includes the following:

[0212] Anchor pointer 1015 for control information, which is placed atthe head of the audio & video data area 1009 and points at the startposition (start address) in which the control information 1011 in theaudio & video data area 1009 has been recorded.

[0213] Control information 1011 necessary to perform each ofvideo-recording (audio-recording), reproducing, editing, and retrievingprocesses.

[0214] A video object 1012 of video-recording information on thecontents of the video data.

[0215] A picture object 1013 of information on still pictures, includingslide pictures.

[0216] An audio object 1014 of audio-recording information on thecontents of the audio data.

[0217] A thumbnail object 1016 of reduced image information, such asthumbnail information, used in editing when the desired part in thevideo data is searched for.

[0218] Each of the video objects 1012, picture objects 1013, audioobjects 1014, and thumbnail objects 1016 shown in FIG. 13(D) means agroup of information classified by the contents of data.

[0219] Therefore, all the video information recorded in the audio &video data area 1009 is included in the video objects 1012, all thestill picture information is included in the picture objects 1013, allthe audio information is included in the audio objects 1014, and all thethumbnail information used for management and search of the videoinformation is included in the thumbnail objects 1016.

[0220] As shown in FIG. 13(E), the contents of the control information1011 include the following:

[0221] AV data control information 1101, which controls the datastructure of the video object 1012 and is management information aboutinformation on the recording position on an optical disc 10 serving asan information storage medium.

[0222] Playback control information 1021, which is control informationnecessary in playback.

[0223] Recording control information 1022, which is control informationnecessary in recording (video-recording and audio-recording).

[0224] Edit control information 1023, which is control informationnecessary in editing.

[0225] Thumbnail control information 1024, which is managementinformation on thumbnails (thumbnail objects) for retrieving the desiredportion of the video data or for editing.

[0226] The pieces of control information 1101, 1021 of FIG. 13(E)correspond to RTR. IFO (VR_MANGR. IFO) of FIG. 14 and RTR_VMG of FIG.17.

[0227] As shown in FIG. 3(F), the data structure of the AV data controlinformation 1101 of FIG. 13(E) includes the following:

[0228] An allocation map table 1105, which lists information on theaddress setting along the actual layout on an information recordingmedium (optical disc 10), the discrimination between recorded areas andunrecorded areas, and others.

[0229] Video title set information VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106, which shows theoverall contents of the AV files and includes information on the linkbetween VOBs, grouping information on VOBs for management and search,and time information, such as a time map table (corresponding toRTR_VMGI of FIG. 16).

[0230] Video object information 1107, which shows information on each ofthe VOBs in the AV files and includes information on the attribute(characteristic) of each VOB and information on each VOBU included inVOB (corresponding to M_AVFIT/S_AVFIT of FIG. 16).

[0231] Program chain control information 1103, which is information on avideo information playback program (sequence) (corresponding to PGCI ofFIG. 17).

[0232] Cell playback information 1108, which is information on the datastructure of a video information basic unit in playback (correspondingto CI of FIG. 17).

[0233] What has been described above is a general view of FIGS. 13(A) to(F). Some supplementary explanation will be given about each piece ofinformation.

[0234] What have been recorded in the volume & file manager information1003 are the following:

[0235] Information on all the volume.

[0236] Information on the number of files of contained PC data and thenumber of files of AV data.

[0237] Recording layer information.

[0238] The following are recorded as the recording layer information:

[0239] The number of component layers (e.g., a single RAM/ROM two-layerdisc is counted as two layers, a single ROM two-layer disc is counted astwo layers, and an n number of single-sided discs are counted as nlayers).

[0240] A logical sector number range table allocated to each layer (acapacity for each layer).

[0241] Characteristics for each layer (e.g., a DVD-RAM disc, the RAMsection of a RAM/ROM two-layer disc, a CD-ROM, and a CD-R).

[0242] A logical sector number range table allocated zone by zone in theRAM area for each layer (including information on the capacity of therewritable area for each layer).

[0243] ID information unique to each layer (e.g., information used tofind disc replacement in a multiple-disc pack).

[0244] The recording layer information makes it possible to setconsecutive logical sector numbers to a multiple-disc pack or a RAM/ROMtwo-layer disc to create a single large volume space.

[0245] Furthermore, the following are recorded in the playback controlinformation 1021:

[0246] Information on a playback sequence for the integration of programchains PGCs.

[0247] The information (the sequence for reproducing all the recordedcells consecutively) indicating spurious recording positions when aninformation storage medium is regarded as a single tape, such as a VTRor a DVC.

[0248] Information on simultaneous playback of plural screens withdifferent pieces of video information.

[0249] Retrieval information (that causes the corresponding ID and thestart time table in the cell to be recorded for each retrieval categoryand enables the user to select a category and access the videoinformation directly).

[0250] In the recording control information 1022, program reservedrecording information and others have been recorded.

[0251] Additionally, the following are recorded in the edit controlinformation 1023:

[0252] Special edit information for each PGC (where the relevant timesetting information and special edit content are written as EDLinformation).

[0253] File conversion information (information used to convert aspecific part of an AV file into a file capable of special editing on aPC, such as an AVI file and specify a place to store the converted file.

[0254] The following has been recorded in the thumbnail information1024:

[0255] Management information on the thumbnail objects 1016, whichincludes the recording location of each thumbnail picture in the AV dataarea 1009, information used to specify the VOBs or cells to which eachthumbnail picture relates, and information on the positions of the VOBsor cells to which each thumbnail picture relates.

[0256] Next, the directory structure of a data file stored onto the disc10 of FIG. 13 will be explained.

[0257] All the information recorded in the data area 1004 of FIG. 13(B)is recorded in files. The relationship between data files is managed inthe form of a directory structure as shown in FIG. 14.

[0258] In FIG. 14, subdirectories 1451 are placed under a root directory1450 to facilitate classification by the contents of a file recorded.

[0259] In the embodiment of FIG. 14, each data file of the computer datarecorded in the computer data areas 1008, 1010 of FIG. 13(C) is recordedunder a computer data storage subdirectory 1457. In addition, theaudio/video data recorded in the audio & video data area 1009 isrecorded under the rewritable video title set RWV_TS (DVD_RTAV) 1452.

[0260] When the video information recorded on a DVD video disc (or DVDaudio disc) is copied onto the disc of FIG. 13(A), the video informationis copied under the video title set VIDEO_TS 1455 and audio title setAUDIO_TS 1456.

[0261] The control signal 1011 of FIG. 13(D) is recorded asrecording/reproducing video management data into a single file. In theembodiment of FIG. 14, the file name is called RWVIDEO_CONTROL. IFO (orreal-time recording information, abbreviated as RTR. IFO or VR_MANGR.IFO). Additionally, the same information is recorded as a backup copyunder the file name RWVIDEO_CONTROL.BUP (or VR_MANGR. BUP).

[0262] In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the video objects (RTR_MOV. VRO orVR_MOVIE. VRO) 1012, picture objects (RTR_STO. VRO or VR_STILL. VRO)1013, audio objects (RTR_STA. VRO or VR_AUDIO. VRO) 1014, and thumbnailobjects 1016 in FIG. 13(D) are all recorded into a single AV file 1401(whose file name in the embodiment of FIG. 14 is RWOBJECT.OB).

[0263] Although not shown in FIG. 13, recording/reproducing additionalinformation 1454 usable in recording and reproducing pictures can berecorded at the same time. All the information is recorded into a singlefile, whose file name is RWADD.DAT in the embodiment of FIG. 14.

[0264] Next, the contents of the playback control signal 1021 in FIG.13(E) will be explained by reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 particularlyshows the data structure of the program chain control information(UD_PGCIT and the like).

[0265] The program chain PGC control information 1103 in the playbackcontrol information 1021 has a data structure shown in FIG. 15. Theplayback sequence of the program chain PGC control information 1103 isdetermined by a program chains PGC and cells. The PGC is a unit inexecuting a series of playback specifying the order in which cells arereproduced. A cell is a playback section where the playback data in eachVOB is specified using a start address and an end address.

[0266] The program chain control information 1103 is composed of PGCinformation management information (or PGCI management information)1052, one or more search pointers for PGC information (or PGCI searchpointers) 1053, 1054, and pieces of PGC information (PGCI) 1055, 1056,1057.

[0267] The PGC information management information (or PGCI managementinformation) 1052 includes information (PGCN) on the number of programchains PGCS. The search pointers for PGC information (or PGCI searchpointers) 1053, 1054 point at the head of each PGC information (PGCI)and make it easy to search.

[0268] Each piece of the PGC information 1055, 1056, 1057 includes PGCgeneral information (PGC_GI) 1061, one or more pieces of programinformation (PGI #m), one or more cell IDs (or cell information searchpointers CI_SRP #m), and one or more pieces of cell information (CI #n).

[0269] The PGC general information (PGC_GI) 1061 includes the playbacktime of program chains PGCs and information on the number of cells (thenumber of pieces of cell playback information).

[0270] Alternatively, the PGC general information (PGC_GI) 1061 mayinclude information (PG_Ns) indicating the number of programs PG andinformation (CI_SRP_Ns) indicating the number of cell information searchpointers CI_SRP.

[0271] Here, it is assumed that the playback data is specified in aplayback section from cell A to cell F and PGC information is defined ineach PGC. In this case, for example, the following hold true, althoughnot shown:

[0272] 1. PGC #1 is made up of cells specifying consecutive playbacksections. The playback sequence is Cell A→Cell B→Cell C.

[0273] 2. PGC #2 is made up of cells specifying intermittent playbacksections. The playback sequence is Cell D→Cell E→Cell F.

[0274] 3. PGC #3 allows cells to be reproduced disorderly, regardless ofthe direction of playback or repetitive playback. The playback sequenceis Cell E→Cell A→Cell D→Cell B→Cell E

[0275] As shown in FIG. 13(E), control information (RTR. IFO orVR_MANGR. IFO) 1011 in FIG. 13 or 14 includes the navigation dataRTR_VMG (real-time recording video manager) corresponding to the piecesof control information 1101 and 1021. The RTR_VMG, as shown in FIG.13(F), includes video title set information VTSI (or RTR_VMG informationRTR_VMGI) 1106.

[0276] The information (RTR_VMGI) 1106 includes the information used inreproducing the sequence of VOB.

[0277]FIG. 16 is a diagram to help explain the data structure ofmanagement information (video title set information VTSI or managementinformation RTR_VMGI for video real-time recording).

[0278] Hereinafter, RTR_VMG of FIG. 13 (or RTR. IFO of FIG. 14), itsdata structure, and its contents will be described by reference to FIG.16.

[0279] As shown in FIG. 16, the navigation data RTR_VMG (controlinformation RTR. IFO or VR_MANGR. IFO) includes RTR video managerinformation (RTR_VMGI), a movie AV file information table (M_AVFIT), astill picture AV file information table (S_AVFIT), an original PGCinformation (ORG_PGCI), a user-defined PGC information table (UD_PGCIT),a text data manager (TXTDT_MG), and a table of information onmanufacturer (MNFIT).

[0280] The TXTDI_MG, which has a structure as shown by (d) and (e) inFIG. 4, includes text data information (TXTDTI), one or more item textsearch pointers (IT_TXT_SRP #1 to IT_TXT_SRP #n), and one or more itemtexts (IT_TXT).

[0281] TXTDT_MG can be used as sub-information for the primary textinformation in a play list or a program.

[0282] Each IT_TXT_SRP # has the start address (IT_TXT_SA) for thecorresponding IT_TXT and the size (IT_TXT_SZ) of the IT_TXT.

[0283] Each IT_TXT has information on the body of the corresponding text(text expressed in the character code determined by CHRS in FIG. 4(e)).

[0284] The RTR_VMGI included in the RTR_VMG corresponds to video titleset information (VTSI) 1106 in FIG. 13(F).

[0285] The information (RTR_VMGI) 1106, as shown in FIG. 16, includesVTS general information 1751, VOB sequence information 1752, PTTinformation 1753, and a VTS time map table 1754.

[0286] From a different point of view, the information (RTR_VMGI) 1106includes a play list search pointer table (PL_SRPT) corresponding to VOBsequence information 1752 and a video manager information managementtable (VMGI_MAT) corresponding to VTS general information 1751.

[0287] The PL_SRPT includes information (PL_SRPTI) 1756 on the number ofVOBs in VTS (or the number of play list search pointers and the endaddress for PL_SRPT), information 1757 on ID of the first VOB in a VOBsequence (or the first play list search pointer PL_SRP #1), information1758 on ID of the second VOB in the VOB sequence (or the second playlist search pointer PL_SRP #2), . . . , and the like.

[0288] Each play list search pointer (PL_SRP #) includes information(PL_TY) on the form of the play list, information (PGCN) on the numberof the PGC corresponding to the play list, information (PL_CREATE_TM) onthe date and time at which the play list was created, information(PRM_TXTI) on the primary text related to the play list, information(IT_TXTI_SRPN) on the number of the search pointer for the item textused in the play list, and thumbnail pointer information (THM_PTRI)indicating the reduced pictures (thumbnail pictures) corresponding tothe contents of the video-recording of the play list (FIG. 16 shows onlyPRM_TXTI and IT_TXT_SRPN in PL_SRP #1).

[0289] The table (PL_SRPT) including those pieces of information 1756,1757, 1758, . . . corresponds to the VOB sequence information 1752included in VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106.

[0290] The contents of the VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106 are summarized asfollows.

[0291] As shown in FIG. 16, the following are recorded in the videotitle set information (VTSI or RTR_VMGI) 1106:

[0292] Video title set general information 1751, which is information onitems in the general contents of a video title set (or RTR data in theAV file 1401 of FIG. 14).

[0293] Video object sequence information 1752, in which information onthe sequence of the VOBs is written, the sequence coming from the serialnumbers assigned to all the VOBs in the video title set VTS (=AV file1401).

[0294] Part-of-title information 1753, in which VOB information includedin each part-of-title PTT is written, each group (part-of-title PTT)consisting of a set of VOBS, each group being assigned a video titlename, and the object data items recorded in the AV file 1401 beinggrouped by related data for the purpose of data management andretrieval.

[0295] A video title set time map table 1754, which lists pieces of VOBUpositional information at specific intervals of time according to thevideo object sequence about the VOBs classified into video objects 1012and audio objects 1014 in the video title set VTS.

[0296] In a concrete data structure of the video object sequenceinformation 1752, the total number of VOBs (or play list search pointerinformation PL_SRPTI) 1756 included in the video title set is recordedat the head at right in FIG. 16. Following that, VOB_IDS 1757, 1758, . .. of the corresponding VOBs (or PL_SRPs #1, #2, . . . , #n) are recordedin that order according to the sequence of the video objects.

[0297] The sequence shown in the video object sequence information 1752can be set arbitrarily on the user side or the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus side, for example, in the order in whichrecording was done into an AV file (or in ascending order of recordingtime), in the order of recording location on an optical disc, or in theorder of VOB size.

[0298] By arranging all the VOBs sequentially in the video title set, auser interface similar to a VTR that records pictures on a single tapecan be provided.

[0299] For example, using the video object sequence information 1752,the following process can be performed:

[0300] The process of searching for the desired place by fast-forwarding(FF) and rewinding (FR) the tape.

[0301] The process of checking the entire contents of the recording byfast-forwarding the tape.

[0302] The process of finding the unnecessary video-recorded place byfast-forwarding (FF) and rewinding (FR) the tape and writing new videoinformation over the unnecessary place.

[0303]FIG. 17 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of thecontrol information/navigation data (RTR_VMG) of FIG. 13 or 16.

[0304] The RTR_VMG corresponds to the pieces of control information 1101and 1021 in FIG. 13(E) and to the control information (RTR. IFO orVR_MANGR. IFO) 1011 in the file structure of FIG. 14.

[0305] In the navigation data RTR_VMG, a user-defined PGC informationtable UD_PGCIT is composed of user-defined PGC information tableinformation (UD_PGCITI), one or more user-defined information searchpointers #1 to #n (UD_PGCI_SRP #1 to UD_PGCI_SRP #n), and as many pieceof user-defined PGC information as the number of those search pointers#1 to #n (UD_PGCI #1 to UD_PGCI #n).

[0306] Each piece of user-defined PGC information (one of UD_PGCI #1 toUD_PGCI #n) or PGC information #i (PGCI #i) corresponding in content tothe original PGC information (ORG_PGCI) is composed of PGC generalinformation (PGC_GI), one or more pieces of program information #1 to #m(PGI #1 to PGI #m), one or more cell information search pointers #1 to#n (CI_SRP #1 to CI_SRP #n), and as many pieces of cell information #1to #1n as the number of those search pointers (CI #1 to CI #n).

[0307] Each piece of program information (e.g., PGI #1) includes aprogram type (PG_TY) including a protect flag that determines whetherthe relevant program should be protected from erroneous deletion, thenumber of cells (C_Ns) in the program, primary text information(PRM_TXTI), an item text search pointer number (IT_TXT_SRPN), andthumbnail pointer information (THM_PTRI).

[0308] Here, the first 64 bits in the 128-byte PRM_TXTI are used indescribing primary text using the ISO/IEC 646:1983 (ASCII) characterset. If the text is shorter than 64 bytes, the deficiency issupplemented with “00h” to produce 64 bytes of text.

[0309] The last 64 bits in the 128-byte PRM_TXTI can be used indescribing primary text using another character set.

[0310] Another character set can be determined by the primary textcharacter set code (CHRS, not shown) written in the VMG management table(VMGI_MAT) in FIG. 16 or 17.

[0311] The character set for the last 64 bits in the PRM_TXTI is sharedby all the primary texts on the disc 10.

[0312] Each cell information search pointer (one of CI_SRP #1 to CI_SRP#n) includes the start address (CI_SA) of the corresponding piece ofcell information. Each piece of cell information (one of CI #1 to CI #n)includes information (M_CI) on movie cells or information (S_CI) onstill picture cells.

[0313] Each M_CI and/or each S_CI can include primary text informationPRM_TXTI therein.

[0314] Here, RTR_VMGI in FIG. 17 corresponds to video title setinformation in FIG. 13(F), M_AVFIT and S_AVFIT in FIG. 17 corresponds tothe video object information 1107 in FIG. 13(F), and ORG_PGCI andUD_PGCIT in FIG. 17 corresponds to the PGC control information 1103 inFIG. 13(F).

[0315] Additionally, PGCI #i in FIG. 17 corresponds to the PGC controlinformation 1103 in FIG. 13(F) and CI # corresponds to the cell playbackinformation 1108 in FIG. 13(F).

[0316]FIG. 18 is a diagram to help explain an example of the structureof the original PGC information (ORG_PGCI in FIG. 16 or 17) includingstill picture VOBs (RTR_STO. VRO files) and movie VOBS (RTR_MOV. VROfiles).

[0317] In FIG. 18, it is assumed that program #1 in PGCI #1 correspondsto VTS, S_VOGI #1 and S_VOGI #2 correspond to more than one VOB, andM_VOBI #1 and M_VOBI #2 correspond to more than one VOB.

[0318] On this assumption, picture objects 1013 constitute the contents(video part and audio part) of the RTR_STO. VRO (or VR_STILL. VRO) filein FIG. 18 and video objects 1012 constitute the contents (VOB #1, VOB#2, . . . ) of the RTR_MOV. VRO (or VR_MOVIE. VRO) file in FIG. 18.

[0319] In FIG. 18, cell # in PGCI can be linked with a VOB entry inS_VOGI #.

[0320] Additionally, the logical address for the video part or audiopart in the RTR_STO. VRO file can be linked with the VOB numberspecified in a VOB entry in S_VOGI #.

[0321] Here, a time map TMAP in M_VOBI # in FIG. 18 will be explained.

[0322] The movie AV file information table M_AVFIT in FIG. 16 or 17,although not shown, includes movie AV file information generalinformation (M_AVFI_GI), one or more movie VOB information searchpointers (M_VOBI_SRP #1 to MVOBI_SRP #n), and as many pieces of movieVOB information as the number of those search pointers (M_VOBI #1 toM_VOBI #n).

[0323] Each M_VOBI #, although not shown, includes movie VOB generalinformation (M_VOBI_GI), seamless information (SMLI), audio gapinformation (AGAPI), and time map information (TMAPI).

[0324] The TMAPI is used in performing special playback (e.g.,reproduction of cells in the order determined by each user using theuser-defined PGC) and time search.

[0325] The TMPI, although not shown, includes time map generalinformation (TMAP_GI), one or more time entires (TM_ENT #1 to TM_ENT#r), and one or more VOB entries (VOBU_ENT #1 to VOBU_ENT #q).

[0326] Each VOBU entry includes information on the size of each VOBU andits playback time. The size of a VOBU is expressed in sectors (2kilobytes or 2048 bytes) and the playback time is expressed in videofields (one field is equivalent to {fraction (1/60)} second in the NTSCsystem and to {fraction (1/50)} second in the PAL system).

[0327] Since the size of a VOBU is expressed in sectors, it is possibleto access a VOBU using an address in sectors.

[0328] Each VOBU entry, although not shown, includes reference picturesize information 1 STREF_SZ, VOBU playback time information VOBU_PB_TM,and VOBU size information VOBU_SZ.

[0329] Here, VOBU_PB_TM is the playback time of the relevant VOBUexpressed in video fields. The reference picture size information 1STREF_SZ is the size of the first reference picture of the relevant VOBU(corresponding to I picture in MPEG).

[0330] On the other hand, each time entry, although not shown, includesaddress information (VOBU_ADR) on the corresponding VOBU and timedifference information (TM_DIEF). The time difference informationrepresents the difference between the playback time specified by thetime entry and the playback start time of the VOBU.

[0331] Now, if the time interval (time unit TMU) between two consecutivetime entries is 10 seconds, the interval between the time entriescorresponds to 60 fields in the NTSC video.

[0332] Although the time interval between VOBUs is generally expressedby the number of fields, it may be expressed by the value of a clockcounter that counts from a VOBU to the next VOBU.

[0333] As a concrete example, the time interval between VOBUs may beexpressed by the value of the difference between the presentation timestamp PTS at the start position of one VOBU and the PTS at the startposition of the immediately following VOBU.

[0334] In other words, the time interval in the unit can be expressed bythe value of the difference between the values of the clock counter in aspecific unit.

[0335] The time map general information TMAP_GI, although not shown,includes TM_ENT_Ns representing the number of time entries in therelevant time map information, VOBU_ENT_Ns representing the number ofVOBU entries in the time map information, time offset TM_OSF for thetime map information, and the address offset ADR_OFS for the time mapinformation.

[0336] In a case where the value (equivalent to 10 seconds)corresponding to 600 fields in the NTSC video (or 500 fields in the PALvideo) is set as a time unit, the time offset TM_OSF is used to expressa shift in time in TMU.

[0337] When the size of a VOB is expressed by the number of sectors, theaddress offset ADR_OFS is used to express a file pointer from the headof an AV file.

[0338] The time entry TM_ENT, although not shown, includes VOBU_ENTNindicating the number of the corresponding VOBU entry, TM_DIFFrepresenting the difference in time between the playback start time forthe VOBU specified by the time entry and the calculated playback time,and VOBU_ADR indicating the target VOBU address.

[0339] If a time unit TMU is expressed by 600 fields in the NTSC system(or a time unit TMU is expressed by 500 fields in the PAL system), thecalculated playback time for time entry #j is expressed byTMU×(j−1)+TM_OSF.

[0340] If the VOBU size is expressed in sectors, the VOBU_ADR representsthe target VOBU address in the total size of the preceding VOBUs in therelevant VOB.

[0341] In the data structure as described above, to start playback inthe middle of a VOBU, its access point must be determined. The accesspoint is defined as a time entry point.

[0342] The time entry point is a distance equivalent to the timedifference indicated by TM_DIFF in the time entry TM_ENT away from theposition represented by the movie address information in VOBU. The timeentry point is a special playback start point (or time search point)indicated by the time map information TMAPI.

[0343] In FIG. 18, cell # in PGCI can be linked with the time map TMAPin M_VOBI # as is S_VOGI #.

[0344]FIG. 18 shows a case where the video field corresponding to theplayback start time exists in the middle of VOBU #k. To represent thesequence of the video field group from the video field determined by theplayback start time, it is necessary to enter the VOBU data to thedecoder, starting at the head of the data. The reason is that even whenthe decoded fields are not be displayed, it is necessary to decode allthe reference video fields having the playback time earlier than theplayback start time. When the decoding work has reached the video fieldcorresponding to the playback start time, the decoder starts to displayvideo pictures.

[0345] It is desirable that the system should be constructed in such amanner that it can start to display pictures exactly from the videofield corresponding to the playback start time, although this is notnecessarily needed.

[0346] As described in detail, with the present invention, it ispossible to provide an optical disc, an optical disc recordingapparatus, and an optical disc reproducing apparatus which are capableof multilingual text retrieval.

[0347] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broaderaspects is not limited to the specific details and representativeembodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information storage medium which has amanagement area and a data area, said data area having data recordedtherein in such a manner that the data is separated into one or moresequences, each sequence composed of one or more programs correspondingto one or more cells, said management area including a sequencemanagement table for managing program sequences by determining an orderof playback of said cells, and including a program management table formanaging said programs, wherein first text information expressed inalphanumeric characters is recorded in said program management table,and second text information is recorded in the same language as or adifferent language from that of said first text information into aspecific area which is different from a recording area of said programmanagement table in said management area.
 2. The information storagemedium according to claim 1 , wherein said first text informationincludes first retrieval information usable in searching for saidprograms.
 3. The information storage medium according to claim 2 ,wherein said second text information includes second retrievalinformation usable in searching for said programs.
 4. The informationstorage medium according to claim 1 , wherein said second textinformation includes an identification code, a size of text information,and a body of text information.
 5. The information storage mediumaccording to claim 1 , wherein said second text information includes anidentification code and a size of text information.
 6. The informationstorage medium according to claim 1 , wherein said sequence managementtable includes a search pointer which points at a specific point in saidprogram sequence and which includes said first text information.
 7. Theinformation storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein said specificarea is included in said management area and includes said second textinformation as sub-information for said first text information.
 8. Theinformation storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein said firsttext information and second text information can be used in searchingfor said programs, and wherein a search using said first textinformation has priority of search over a search using said second textinformation.
 9. The information storage medium according to claim 1 ,wherein said management area includes a management table for managingsaid cells, and text information expressed in alphanumeric characters isrecorded in said cell management table.
 10. The information storagemedium according to claim 2 , wherein said first text informationincludes at least one of video-recording start date and time,video-recording end date and time, a source name, and a channel number.11. The information storage medium according to claim 3 , wherein saidfirst text information includes at least one of video-recording startdate and time, video-recording end date and time, a source name, and achannel number.
 12. A recording apparatus which uses an optical dischaving a management area and a data area in which one or more programshave been recorded, said management area including a sequence managementtable for managing the sequence of said programs and a programmanagement table for managing said programs, said recording apparatuscomprising: first recording means for recording data in unit of aprogram into said data area on said optical disc; second recording meansfor recording first text information expressed in alphanumericcharacters and usable in searching for said programs into said programmanagement table on said optical disc; and third recording means forrecording second text information usable in searching for said programsinto an area which is different from a recording area of said programmanagement table in said management area on said optical disc.
 13. Therecording apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said second textinformation is expressed in the same language as that of said first textinformation.
 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 12 , whereinsaid second text information is expressed in a different language fromthat of said first text information.
 15. The recording apparatusaccording to claim 12 , wherein said second and third recording meansrecord in such a manner that a search using said first text informationhas priority of search over a search using said second text information.16. A reproducing apparatus which uses an optical disc having amanagement area and a data area in which one or more programs have beenrecorded, said management area including a sequence management table formanaging the sequence of said programs and a program management tablefor managing said programs, said reproducing apparatus comprising: inputmeans for inputting at least one of video-recording date and channelnumber as text information; retrieving means for retrieving a program tobe reproduced by comparing the inputted text information with primarytext information recorded in said program management table; selectingmeans for selecting one of pieces of the text information with respectto the retrieved program to be reproduced; and reproducing means forreproducing data of the program corresponding to the selected piece ofthe said information.
 17. The reproducing apparatus according to claim16 , further comprising: second retrieving means for retrieving aprogram using other text information different from said primary textinformation.
 18. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 17 ,wherein a search using said primary text information has priority over asearch using said other text information.
 19. A reproducing apparatuswhich reproduces said first text information or said second textinformation from the information storage medium according to claim 1 .20. A reproducing apparatus which reproduces the contents of records insaid management area from the information storage medium according toclaim 1 .